Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski vs Jared “The Mountain” Vanderaa
Round 1:
Arlovski landed a hard right hand in the opening minute as he circled on the outside. Vanderaa missed with an uppercut and Arlovski landed an overhand right. He followed with another one and Vanderaa clinched soon after. Arlovski broke free and he missed with a right hook. Vanderaa grazed with an uppercut and Arlovski responded with a hard right hook. He wobbled Vanderaa with an overhand right, but Vanderaa recovered quickly and Arlovski attempted a spinning backfist in the final seconds. 10-9 Arlovski.
Round 2:
Vanderaa punched his way into an early clinch in the second round and he held Arlovski against the cage while throwing knees to his thigh. Arlovski escaped from the clinch and he threw a head kick that was blocked. A right cross landed for Arlovski and he followed with two more. Right hooks were exchanged and time was called when Arlovski was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and Arlovski immediately landed an overhand right. He stepped in with a right hook and Vanderaa clinched against the fence. The fighters separated and Arlovski landed one more right hand. He missed with a spinning backfist attempt before the bell. 10-9 Arlovski.
Round 3:
Vanderaa opened the action in the final round with a body kick and knees to Arlovski’s thighs after securing a clinch. After the fighters broke free from the clinch, Vanderaa landed a leg kick and Arlovski cracked him with an overhand right. Vanderaa landed a body kick and he countered a right hand from Arlovski with a lead left hook. Arlovski blocked a head kick, but Vanderaa kept him backed against the cage and he landed two left hooks. Arlovski circled away and attempted a spinning backfist. 10-9 Vanderaa.
Winner: Andrei Arlovski by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 33-20-0, 2 NC.
“King” Casey O’Neill vs Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi
Round 1:
Modafferi used her jab to set up a combination early on. O’Neill answered with two right hooks and she began to establish her own jab. O’Neill landed an overhand right and Modafferi countered with a lead left hook. A big right hand landed for Modafferi, but O’Neill was unfazed and she landed two short right hooks. Modafferi bloodied her nose with a jab-cross combo and O’Neill threw two combinations while moving forward. O’Neill’s left eye began to swell up and both women landed hooks during a late-round exchange. Competitive round. 10-9 O’Neill.
Round 2:
O’Neill jabbed and caught a body kick from Modafferi, but Modafferi pulled her leg free and O’Neill flurried with punches. Modafferi landed a right hand and a short knee in close. As O’Neill stepped forward, she ate another right hand from Modafferi and O’Neill’s eye continued to swell up. O’Neill scored with a right cross and she clinched after ducking under lunging punches from Modafferi. Punches were exchanged and Modafferi landed jabs, but O’Neill’s right hand continued to find its mark. She landed a lead left hook and a flurry of punches that backed Modafferi up and caused her face to redden. Modafferi shot in for a takedown and she got O’Neill down into half-guard in the final five seconds. 10-9 O’Neill.
Round 3:
Modafferi landed a hard right hand in the final round and O’Neill responded with jab-hook combos. Modafferi’s eye began to swell as a result of O’Neill’s right hands. More punches were exchanged and Modafferi landed two knees to the body in a brief clinch. Each time Modafferi closed the distance, she landed another knee. O’Neill pushed her away and scored with a front kick to the face. She landed two right hooks and a combination. O’Neill sprawled out of a takedown attempt and returned to her feet. Modafferi got her down in the final minute and landed knees to her thigh as O’Neill stood up against the cage. Modafferi threw short right hands and more knees, and the fighters separated just before the final bell. Close final round. 10-9 Modafferi.
Winner: Casey O’Neill by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. She improves to 9-0-0.
Kyler “Matrix” Phillips vs Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo
Round 1:
Phillips started quickly with a lead left hook and a body kick, and both men landed overhand rights. Phillips jumped in with a flying switch knee and he dropped Rojo with a leg kick. Rojo stood and Phillips landed a combination. Right hooks were exchanged and Phillips took Rojo down. He jumped on his back and then turned over into mount on the ground, but Rojo got back to half-guard. He stood up against the cage and Phillips landed three knees along the way. Phillips jabbed and he knocked Rojo off-balance with a counter left hook as Rojo took a step forward. A brief clinch followed and Phillips landed a left-right combo after separating. He dumped Rojo to the mat and avoided a late-round armbar attempt. 10-9 Phillips.
Round 2:
Rojo landed a combination in the second round, but Phillips answered right back with punches and a body kick. He attacked Rojo’s lead leg with kicks and landed a left hook to the liver. More leg kicks scored for Phillips and he attempted a head kick that was blocked. Rojo countered with an overhand right, but he was unable to follow up and Phillips continued to score with leg and body kicks. Rojo’s left leg swelled up and Phillips took him down very briefly. In the final 30 seconds, Phillips secured a clinch against the cage and Rojo broke free with a knee to the body. 10-9 Phillips.
Round 3:
Phillips used a combination to set up a takedown in the final round and he landed on top in side control. Phillips used a kimura attempt to set up a unique transition to mount, where he locked on a top-side triangle choke and then rolled to his back. He pulled back on Rojo’s left arm in a triangle armbar and Rojo hastily tapped out.
Winner: Kyler Phillips by Submission (Triangle Armbar) at 1:48 of round three. He improves to 10-2-0.
Carlos “Black Jag” Ulberg vs Fabio “The Water Buffalo” Cherant
Round 1:
Ulberg struck first with two leg kicks and Cherant landed an overhand left. Little transpired for the next minute until Ulberg landed another leg kick. Time was called when Cherant was struck in the groin by a front kick. The fight resumed and Cherant lunged forward with a big left hook. Ulberg clinched and he used a leg-sweep takedown to get Cherant down. Cherant quickly battled back to his feet and Ulberg knocked him down with a leg kick as Cherant threw a lunging punch. Cherant stood and he blocked a spinning hook kick from Ulberg. Late in the round, Ulberg attempted a head kick and Cherant knocked him off-balance with a left hook. Close opening round. 10-9 Ulberg by a slim margin.
Round 2:
Early in the second round, Ulberg landed a hard jab that opened a cut beside Cherant’s right eye. He countered a body kick from Cherant with a lead left hook and a straight right. Ulberg landed another lead left hand and two jabs as Cherant struggled to connect with anything in return. Ulberg continued to jab during the final minute and Cherant offered nothing in return. 10-9 Ulberg.
Round 3:
Ulberg grazed with a head kick to begin round three and the crowd began to boo as Cherant continued to throw zero strikes. Ulberg landed a body kick and a right hand, then followed with a head kick that was blocked. Ulberg ducked under a left hook from Cherant and took him down into side control. Cherant gave up his back and managed to shake Ulberg off, and the fighters stood up shortly before the end of the fight. 10-9 Ulberg.
Winner: Carlos Ulberg by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 4-1-0.
Ronnie “The Heat” Lawrence vs Leomana “Manaboi” Martinez
Round 1:
After an exchange of leg kicks, Lawrence stepped forward with a one-two and he took Martinez down. Martinez struck from the bottom and he briefly stood up against the cage. Lawrence tripped him again, but Martinez rose to his feet and circled away. Lawrence used a leg kick to set up an overhand right that sent Martinez crashing to the mat. Martinez got to his knees and Lawrence landed right hands to the side of his face. He fought off a Martinez heel hook attempt in a scramble and took top position in Martinez’s guard. Lawrence landed an elbow and short right hands from the top until the bell. 10-9 Lawrence.
Round 2:
Lawrence caught a kick and he dropped Martinez with a left hook early in the second round. He looked for a Brabo choke from Martinez’s half-guard, then gave it up and landed a hard right hand to Martinez’s face. Martinez was able to get back to his feet, but Lawrence floored him with a right hook and followed with more punches on the ground. The fight was not stopped, so Lawrence took Martinez’s back and secured a body triangle. He worked for rear-naked chokes, but Martinez escaped and he briefly held top position in Lawrence’s guard. Lawrence swept and wound up on top. Martinez stood up and Lawrence pulled him back down. 10-8 Lawrence.
Round 3:
Martinez opened the final round with a lead left hook and he countered a body kick with another left hand. Martinez scored with a hard kick to Lawrence’s ribs and he ducked under a Lawrence head kick. A liver kick landed for Lawrence, who leapt into the air with a flying knee attempt that missed. Martinez scored with a hard left hook and he dropped Lawrence with a spinning backfist. A wobbly Lawrence managed to get Martinez down, but Martinez attacked from the bottom with a triangle choke and an armbar. Lawrence escaped, but he ate an upkick from Martinez after standing up. Back on the feet, Martinez landed two punches and Lawrence took him down. 10-9 Martinez.
Winner: Ronnie Lawrence by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 8-1-0.
Jacob “Mamba” Malkoun vs A.J. Dobson
Round 1:
Dobson landed a three-punch combo right away and he hurt Malkoun with a right hook. Malkoun dropped levels and tried for a body-lock takedown, but Dobson maintained his balance and he broke free from the clinch. Malkoun shot in again and Dobson defended against another takedown attempt. Malkoun landed a right hook in close, but Dobson countered with two knees. He landed left hooks and a one-two, then countered a right hand from Malkoun with a head kick that was partially blocked. Malkoun caught a body kick from Dobson, but he was unable to take him down. Late in the round, Dobson landed a left-right combo and Malkoun finally took him down before the bell. 10-9 Dobson.
Round 2:
Round two began with Dobson landing a knee to the body and Malkoun responded with a right hook. He clinched, but Dobson reversed it against the cage. Malkoun turned Dobson around again and Dobson pushed him away. Soon after, Malkoun tripped Dobson and he landed punches to the sides of Dobson’s head. More left hands scored for Malkoun, and Dobson could not get back to his feet. Malkoun almost gave up top position with an ill-advised guillotine choke attempt, but he was able to take Dobson’s back again and resumed punching to the sides of Dobson’s head. 10-9 Malkoun. Close to a 10-8.
Round 3:
Malkoun landed an overhand right and he took Dobson down into back control. Dobson stood and was immediately dragged back down. Malkoun landed right hands to the side of his head and secured a third takedown as the fight entered its final three minutes. Malkoun worked from Dobson’s half-guard with short right hands to Dobson’s face and knees to the body. More right hands scored for Malkoun, who postured up with elbows as well. Malkoun continued to land elbows and punches until the end of the one-sided round. 10-8 Malkoun.
Winner: Jacob Malkoun by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 6-1-0.
Douglas “D’Silva” Silva de Andrade vs Sergey Morozov
Round 1:
Andrade landed two leg kicks in the opening minute and he followed with a head kick that was blocked. Morozov stunned him with a left hook and then floored Andrade with an uppercut. Andrade recovered on the ground and tied Morozov up as Morozov punched to the body. After Morozov postured up, he landed an elbow that opened a bad cut beside Andrade’s right eye. Blood poured all over the canvas, but Andrade was able to get back to his feet and Morozov landed a knee. He scored with a one-two and a knee to the body. Andrade responded with a right hook and a leg kick, but Morozov hurt him with a tornado kick to the liver and he finished the round with a takedown. 10-9 Morozov. Could be a 10-8.
Round 2:
Andrade hurt Morozov with a left-right combo early in the second round and he dropped him with a right hook. Morozov got back to his feet and he missed with a spinning backfist. Time was called when Andrade was poked in the eye. When the fight continued, Andrade dropped Morozov again with another left-right combo. As Morozov stood up, Andrade landed a hard knee. He prevented Morozov from taking him down and hurt Morozov with a spinning back forearm and an elbow. Morozov fell to the ground and Silva took his back. He hunted for a rear-naked choke until he was able to lock it in, and Morozov was rendered unconscious within seconds. Big comeback win for Andrade.
Winner: Douglas Silva de Andrade by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:34 of round two. He improves to 28-4-0, 1 NC.
Jeremiah Wells vs Mike “Blood Diamond” Mathetha
Round 1:
Wells secured a body lock and worked for a takedown against the cage. He finally got Mathetha down after more than 90 seconds and quickly took Mathetha’s back. Mathetha escaped from a rear-naked choke attempt by turning to his side and Wells dropped hammerfists from S-mount. Wells took Mathetha’s back and landed punches to the side of his head, then locked on another rear-naked choke. Mathetha refused to tap out and was choked unconscious.
Winner: Jeremiah Wells by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:38 of round one. He improves to 10-2-1.
Maxim “Maximus” Grishin vs William “Knightmare” Knight
Round 1:
Grishin kept his distance and he threw kicks to Knight’s lead leg and body during the opening 90 seconds. He stunned Knight with a head kick, but Knight recovered quickly and Grishin resumed kicking from range. Knight finally landed a kick to Grishin’s upper body and Grishin attacked his lead leg. 10-9 Grishin.
Round 2:
The second round began with Knight landing a leg kick and he just missed with a spinning hook kick. Grishin landed a body kick and followed with a straight right hand. He spun Knight around with a calf kick and then cracked him with a hard right cross that prompted Knight to drop levels for a takedown. Grishin stayed on his feet and Knight held him against the cage. Grishin tried to jump into a standing rear-naked choke, but Knight shook him off and landed two punches as Grishin rose to his feet. Knight attempted a German suplex that failed and Grishin took top position on the ground. He landed short elbows from the top and then a knee to the body as Knight powered out and stood up. Both men landed jabs and Grishin kicked to the body. 10-9 Grishin.
Round 3:
Grishin spun Knight around again with another leg kick to begin the final round and he scored with a right hook before Knight clinched and tripped him to the mat. Grishin stood and he held Knight against the fence. The fighters separated and both landed left hands before Knight shot in and tried again for a takedown. Grishin stuffed it, but Knight caught a body kick and he got Grishin down. Knight passed to half-guard, but Grishin used the opportunity to power out from the bottom and the fighters stood up. Knight attempted a flying knee and he tripped Grishin momentarily. As Grishin stood, Knight landed a knee. Grishin countered with an elbow and a leg kick, and he dropped an off-balance Knight with a right hook. The fight ended with Grishin in mount on the ground. Close round. 10-9 Grishin due to the late rally.
Winner: Maxim Grishin by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 32-9-2.